Tag Archives: twenty minute one acts

Waiting for John – drama about a family torn apart by a son’s death

WAITING FOR JOHN – DRAMA ABOUT A FAMILY TORN APART BY A SON’S DEATH

Fred has a son called John. He’s all grown up now, but still a good lad. Fred and John spend hours together, but what they like to do best is watch the stars, naming all the constellations. Today Fred is getting the tea ready for John and his wife, Edith. He likes to do this whilst he’s waiting for John. He should be home soon. Any minute now.
Edith had a son called John. He isn’t coming home, not ever again. Not since he got in that car. But she’ll wait as well, wait for her husband to come back to her. A drama about a family torn apart by a son’s death.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Waiting for John won best play in the 2018 Franklin and Friends one act play festival in Roosevelt Park.
Schultz Theater Off Broadway Players, VA, USA – 2020
Western Nebraska Community College, NE, USA – 2022

Watch a Production by the Off Broadway Players, 2021

Author: Spencer Rowley

Type: One act play

Genre: Drama about a family torn apart by a son’s death

Cast: 1M 2F

Ages of the actors: Mains: middle aged up. Nurse: Any adult age

Suitable for: All ages to watch and teens up to perform.

Length: Twenty minutes

Set: The set is quite simple; no walls or doors, except for a shelf which splits the stage centrally into two parts left and right, and which can be accessed by either character. The shelf is otherwise see-through and must be designed in such a way that it does not affect the audience’ concentration or view. Each character has a chair (Edith’s is a rocking chair). Fred has a trunk containing toys or mementos of his son. Each side has a tea-making facility with kettle/cups/etc., and a small side-table. Each side table has a framed photograph of John, placed so that the audience can see. In the picture John is a young man/teenager.

Level of Difficulty: 7/10 – simple character portrayal is the essence of this award winning play

Read a Sample of the Script




Cost is $10 for this award winning digital play

Contact Off the Wall Plays with any queries about Waiting for John

Copyright © March 2019 Spencer Rowley and Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this play? Other family dramas you may enjoy:

Daughter like you – family drama about a couple trying to cope with losing a young child
Love, Norman. Norman is about to take his life when his family arrives with an unusual request
Memory Palace – poignant drama surrounding the life of a family as they sell their home

Gorgeous – one act comedy about an audition

one act comedy about an audition

GORGEOUS – ONE ACT COMEDY ABOUT AN AUDITION

In this one act comedy about an audition, a young and nervous Bimmy comes to audition for a part in a play that is being produced by an actress she has always admired. It turns out though that Bimmy’s admiration has been sorely misplaced and her idol is, in fact, an opinionated, boozy woman who used to be famous but now is, to put it frankly, a bitch named Babette. The only thing that really matters to Babette is her elderly pooch, named Gorgeous who also attends the audition. Together Babette and her sister, Claudette put Bimmy through the audition from hell, all the while directing loud comments to the dog about the shocking quality of the actresses auditioning for the part. Bimmy makes it through the audition and emerges stronger for it, if slightly unemployed.

A nice piece for four women in which the main character can grow from nervous and shy into a confident young woman.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Holy Rosary School, Johannesburg, South Africa – 2021
Farmington High School, CT, USA – 2021
Farmington High School, CT, USA – 2021

 

Author: Drogheda Woods

Genre: Comedy about an audition

Type: One act play

Cast: 4F and a stuffed dog. The first F is a smaller part.

Ages of the actors: Two middle aged, round fifty and the others can be younger.

Suitable for: All ages

Length: Twenty minutes

Set: The action takes place in an audition space. Babette and Solange sit in one section of the theatre seats while conducting auditions. Babette has a coffee mug and a big bottle of gin which she keeps in an garish oversized handbag. Two bowls are on the floor for the dog. Several dog toys are scattered about.

Level of difficulty: 6/10 – a fun comedy in which characterization plays a large role in the humour.

Read a Sample of the Script

pay now shakespeare

Cost is $9.00 for this new digital comedy play. Just click Shakespeare!

 Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries about Gorgeous

Copyright © September 2016 Drogheda Woods and Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this play? Have a look at our similar plays:

The Dane – ten minute comedy about an audition for Hamlet
Bob – minute comedy sketch about an audition
Meeting Meryl – play about being so nervous about auditioning for Meryl Streep that you turn down the part and your father comes back from the dead to make you do it.